Universal Periodic Review

Summary

This year, the United States participated in a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – a process set up by the Human Rights Council at the United Nations to assess the level of human rights in each country. The U.S. received more than 200 recommendations.

Recommendation 86 called on the Obama Administration to "...ensure access to public services paying attention to the special vulnerability of sexual workers to violence and human rights abuses."

Last week, the U.S. released its report to the U.N. states saying, "We agree that no one should face violence or discrimination in access to public services based on sexual orientation or their status as a person in prostitution." On March 18th, in Geneva, the U.S. formally endorsed UN Recommendation 86.

We believe this is the first time the United States has affirmed the need for human rights protections for sex workers.

We endorsed an oral statement to the U.N., delivered by Darby Hicky in Geneva.